AKHoosier

  IU's defense is rated 120 according to Kenpom.  Butler's is 141.  I think Butler could use a little more "heart and passion" on that end of the floor.

  #indianakids   Sorry couldn't help myself.  I wonder what's going on with him.

Wow, Nova torched Xavier by 30.

Northwestern hosts Maryland on Saturday, good chance for them to pick up an early season big win.   That would be cool to see them get to the tournament, I know we say it every year but I really think this could be their year.

  Actually we torched Rutgers last year.  If you had said Nebraska, then I'd have to agree.  I've got a bad feeling about that game on Saturday.

Hmiel says the late Bill Dally, a trucking executive who became close to several Bearcat coaches, told him he had offered Moses Malone a suitcase containing $150,000, “and that we were third that day.”   Wow.

The comments are pretty revealing, and don't surprise me in the least regarding Wisconsin.   I heard some pretty bad things also regarding Bret Bielema too, so it doesn't surprise me to hear them about Alvarez too.

  Exactly.  Why in the world would anyone care that the strength coach is on the bench?    If you don't like Crean I get that, but people are just looking for reasons to complain now.

Chris Mack would be acceptable, but he'd be on the second or third tier of coaches on my wish list if there was a change.   Lifetime 66% winning percentage, never further than the Sweet 16 in 6 years, although he has a team playing really well now.   There would have to be like 4 or 5 guys who say "no" first before we give him a call.

  So Rutgers covered the spread?  Good for them!

  He's not bashing a college kid, he's just criticizing his ability to play defense, which is something he is paid to do.   If he said, "James Blackmon is ugly and has no friends," then yeah, that'd be different.

  As someone who doesn't follow the NBA closely at all, is this very feasible?  Are Durant/Westbrook both in danger of leaving this year, are they in contract years, and could they really miss the playoffs?

  We also haven't gotten out of the first weekend of the tournament since 2012-2013 too.   If we have a 22-9 type year, get bounced the first day of the BTT, then only win 1 or no games in the NCAAs, then I don't think a change would be uncalled for.  Tournament success cannot be lacking the way it has been lately.

Jeff Borzello Verified account ‏@jeffborzello When's the last time a MAAC team was favored by double-digits on road at a Big Ten school? Monmouth 10.5-point favorites at Rutgers today.

  I'm sure they're quiet now, really nothing they can say after falling to 0-5 all-time in this tournament.

lol @ Padoo.  0-5 all-time in the Crossroads Classic.  Even in our down years we still manage to win in this dog and pony show tournament.

Good thing Calipari played a B1G team at a neutral site today, or else he would have lost.   What a loser.

Gotta get the wins over in-state teams, especially when we say we shouldn't waste our time with this tournament.   Now let's root for both Kentucky and Purdue to lose today!

  Exactly, you know it sticks in their craw that despite being undefeated and ranked in the top 10, more people will still be watching our game than theirs.   Padoo just doesn't move the needle in terms of viewership.  They'll never be a sexy draw, ever.   Honestly, that's a big reason we should get out of this tournament.  Purdue, as well as BU and ND, just are not major draws.

  Just remind him that there will be one team present tomorrow that has never won a game in the Crossroads Classic.  Maybe we should start inviting Indiana State instead?

  Yeah hopefully, I read that statement a few times to make sure I was understanding it correctly.   Come home Brad :)   Crazy to think that at least 3 B1G jobs could be in play after the season: Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

Took this from ESPN.com's front page:   Brad Stevens on anniversary of Rondo/Crowder trade: "We traded a very impactful player here for a lot of years. But I think that I feel good about, even after a couple of games lost in a row, when I'm not feeling as good about life, I feel really good about our progress that has been made regardless."   Am I reading that correctly, that he's not feeling as good about life?  If so, wonder what that's about...

He sounds pissed off that Indiana residents largely aren't fans of Notre Dame basketball.   Well no sh!t, neither are your own students. 

  Exactly my thought as well, I guess they're just trying to make a comparison just for comparison's sake.

Notre Dame is going to be tough, they're a fundamentally sound and experienced team with Jackson and Auguste leading them.   It will just depend on how James and Troy play, they're usually indicative of how we do.    It's all about what you can do when the shots (3s) aren't falling.  Can we play good defense against their pick and rolls?  I don't know, definitely a tough matchup for us.